Aggression in clown and pakistani / yoyo loaches

G

geek

AC Members
Nov 4, 2005
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Hi all

Got a bendy question for ya. Pakistani loaches (I think you guys call them Yoyo loaches?) just became legal here in Australia. I've always been a big fan of the Pakistani loach, but because you couldn't import them I have no experience with them.

I have run a 500L(ish) tank that has been going for a couple of years. Had 4 clowns that I've grown from small specimens to their current 3-4 inches that I've not had grief with. Tank also has 2 large bristlenoses, 3 small bristlenoses, a whiptail cat, a school of 9 scissortails, 2 golden gourami, 2 kissing gourami, an old chinese loach, 5 blind cave tetras, a large hoplo cat, 4 corydoras, and (regrettably) 2 tandanus cats, 3 upside-down cats, and 5 khuli loaches.

Recently added 4 tiny clowns (1-1 1/2 inches) and 9 tiny Pakistani loaches (1 inch). Plan was to grow em up in my big tank and distribute to my family when they are a bit bigger.

Noticed some dodgey behaviour.

1.) The baby clowns hang out in pairs or in one group, but have shown a lot of aggression to eachother, barging and trying to take nips at eachother. I've never seen aggression in clowns before.

2.) One of the bristlenoses got hammered. Lots of open wounds, torn fins. As I watched, a pakistani loach swam up and took a chunk off the top of her head. Bristlenose didn't really and get away when I caught her to isolate. Haven't seen any other aggression from Pakistani loaches, so get the feeling she lost a fight with another bristlenose (or other fish) and the P. loaches were opportunistically sticking the boot in.

Obvious conclusion for me was territorial problems (not enough hidey holes, too many bottom-dwellers) but I have read that pakistani loaches sort out a pecking order early on (when they can be a bit aggressive) and then settle down.

Has anyone else seen aggression in Pakistani or clown loaches? Any other advice on keeping Pakistani loaches?

Cheers,
Geek.
 
IME, botia loaches in general (clowns, pakistani, zebra, etc) all establish pecking orders. Never kept them with plecos but since they occupy the same area, I think it could be possible to have a squabble between the two, but I don't know.
I agree that they settle down when older and have established territory/order, but they will still go at it down the road from time to time.
Sounds like you need some more hiding spots.
 
Cheers for the replies - sorry for slow response, I have limited internet access.

The tank is 6 ft by 50cm by 50cm, which I would have thought is big enough for that many bottom dwellers, given the pakistanis are so small (at the moment at least). I've since moved the damaged bristlenose to a smaller tank at a relative's house for recovery.

I've added a few more caves, and I'm moving a few bottom-dwellers out, but I'm still suprised. None of the other bristlenoses have been damaged.

The reason why I put in so many clowns and pakis is that I believed they would do better in larger groups. The clowns definitely appreciate a school, but as I said I have limited experience with Pakistanis. Anyone know whether they go OK on their own, or preferred school size?

FYI: Clowns seem to have settled down a bit. Have not seen any aggression from the Pakistanis yet, apart from them taking chunks from the aforementioned bristlenose. I still don't know whether they hammered him, or if they were just picking on him after something else knocked him about. I'll keep an eye and let you know how they behave.
 
ive had a group of yoyos before. but they do get aggressive towards each other when there is limited space. im guessing they take the territory thing pretty serious. they do attack each other for food at times and chases one another but never had a incident where they kill each other off. so just make sure you have enough hiding space for them.
 
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